Many magnificent players have entered the famed Lions den, but who leads the pack and deserves to be inducted into SARugbymag’s Lions Hall of Fame?
Johan Ackermann
A big, burly lock, Ackermann made big strides on the field and great ones off it. The former Bok bruiser is a three-time SARU Coach of the Year (2014, 2015 and 2016) and is widely regarded as the “saviour” of Lions rugby thanks to his Super Rugby exploits.
After taking over the coaching reins from John Mitchell in 2013, Ackermann led the Lions to Super Rugby finals in 2016 and 2017 as they became the first South African franchise since the Bulls (2009, 2010) to qualify for back-to-back finals. He made 55 appearances for the Lions during his playing days, scoring four tries.
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John Daniels
The Currie Cup’s all-time most prolific try-scorer, Daniels crossed the whitewash for fun and made 74 appearances for the Lions, scoring a staggering 65 tries between 2002 to 2006. He is also the Vodacom Cup’s greatest try-scorer of all time and was named the Vodacom Cup Player of the Season in 2004.
Jaques Fourie
Fourie was blessed with great power, deceptive speed and had his opponents sweating when he hit the gainline at full tilt.
He made 68 Super Rugby appearances for the Lions, dotting down 24 times from 2003 to 2009.
Fourie currently serves as the Lions defence coach since taking the post in 2021.
Japie Mulder
A thundering all-rounder, Mulder played with a nasty edge and served the Lions with aplomb.
From 1991 to 2001, Mulder racked up 113 Currie Cup appearances, won three Currie Cup titles and three Lion Cup trophies. He was also part of the Lions squad that won the inaugural Super 10 trophy in 1993.
Joe van Niekerk
The 2002 SA Rugby Player of the Year, “Big Joe” was built like a forward but had the skills of a back. In two stints with the Lions he made 42 appearances and scored eight tries.
Hall of Fame: Cheetahs edition
Kobus Wiese
One of the most well-known faces of South African rugby, Wiese was a stalwart for the Lions. Like Mulder, he was part of the 1993 set-up, arguably the greatest side ever fielded by the Lions, that won the Super 10 trophy, Lion Cup and Currie Cup. Wiese made an incredible 128 provincial appearances for the Lions and scored 21 tries.
Photo: Carl Fourie / Gallo Images
